With the departure of star goalkeeper Emil Gazdov to CF Montreal (MLS), Pacific FC was left searching for a reliable presence in net. They may have found their answer through a loan deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
PFC has secured 20-year-old netminder Max Anchor on loan through the end of the 2025 campaign.
Anchor's journey with the Whitecaps began in 2017 when he joined their academy at 13.
The netminder signed with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) on an MLS contract in May 2022, before joining the Whitecaps MLS roster at the start of the 2023 season.
His career saw its greatest leap at just 17 years old when he made his Whitecaps debut.
Thrust into his first MLS start on a short-term call-up due to health and safety protocols, the Burnaby, B.C. product performed laudably in front of 30,000 fans in a 2-1 defeat against Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
B次元官网网址淎ll the experience that I got from that season was crazyB次元官网网址攚hether it was the first-team preseason, my debut game, or with WFC2 B次元官网网址� I learned a lot," Anchor said.
Since 2022, Anchor has started 38 matches for WFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro, including one playoff game. He earned six clean sheets, stopped three of eight penalty kicks in regulation time, made 129 saves, and served as team captain.
Whitecaps FC sporting director, Axel Schuster expects this loan to be a pivotal part of his development.
B次元官网网址淢ax has been developing well within our system, starting from the academy and now in his fourth professional season,B次元官网网址� Schuster said. B次元官网网址淭his is an excellent opportunity for him to continue to push himself in a new environment as he progresses to the next steps in his career.B次元官网网址�
PFC head coach James Merriman has seen continuous growth in Anchor's career.
B次元官网网址淢ax is a player I know very well. I worked with him in Vancouver and have seen his progression as a young professional,B次元官网网址� Merriman said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a goalkeeper with strong shot-stopping ability and heB次元官网网址檚 aggressive and driven. We know his potential and are very happy to have secured him on loan for the season.B次元官网网址�
Anchor will team up with Sean Melvin to form PFC's new goaltending tandem.
The Tridents will open their season on April 5 against Winnipeg's Valour FC.
